Prologue
Bucks pov.

I am standing in a room in my Dress Blues. Medals shining brightly and my ribbons sharp. This room was the Oval Office. The presidents office. I heard a door open behind me and I turned and saluted.

"Captain. As you were."

I dropped the salute and offered my hand.

"Mr. President."

He took my hand firmly and smiled.

"Captain Clintones. I heard a lot about you. It's an honor to stand in YOUR presence."

I was shocked. I just couldn't process why he is honored.

"Why are you honored? I'm in the presence of the President."

He walked behind his desk and put a file on it.

"Because I read your field operations, your mission debriefings, your confirmed kills, your...classified information and lastly your most recent counseling session. And you did all of it alone. You have done so much for this country and those people over seas. I am honored because you give people hope and you lead those people to victory in Liberia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Sierra Leone, Egypt, and Qatar. That mission in that god forsaken catacomb of a castle. You brought back four men alive. I brought you here to give you your retirement papers. This is what you wanted for a nice long while isn't it?"

I just stood there and nodded.

"Yes sir. I'm tired of it all. The killing, seeing good men, women and children die. I've had enough of it. Give me those papers please. Can I have my audio logs and my mission file, for that mission?"

He handed me my papers and he didn't let go.

"As a gift we have redone your mothers home in Georgia. I personally worked most of it myself and we installed all new insulin in the walls, tarred and shingled the roof and replaced all the plumbing and gave you the biggest gun safe that we could fit in the shed in the back. My advisor told me you would want those back, they're in the safe room."

He let go and smiled at me. I smiled back.

"How is my momma?"

"She is old and withered. But she is in perfect health. She just needs to get some fresh air every now and then. She doesn't have long, I'm sorry."

I signed the papers and I sighed.

"Oh momma...I need to get home."

"I will order a chopper to take you home. Your monthly salary curtesy of the US Government will be $5,615, but do to your skills and all you've been through its been doubled. Any vehicle purchases will be paid for by the government. It's been a pleasure Captain."

I offered my hand and we shook hands for the final time. Then I heard a door open behind me and a secret service agent came in. The president motioned to the agent and smiled.

"Captain, your escort is here. Time to get you home."

I began to walk out I nodded to the agent.

"Buck knife is moving, start up the engines. Eta: two minutes."

On the Helicopter.
I had an audio file on a MP3 player that I recorded the thoughts and feelings I had on that mission to Hell and back.

I clicked play on the screen.

'The world is a gaping hole. Too many men were lost in the depths of this place for me to remember. It took me a while to realize that I was one of them. One on the list of casualties swallowed in the dark. Funny how it is when you're used to walking on the safe side pulling people out of harms way, when you start to think of yourself as a hero. Then yet again, there's no hiding from darkness...well, not this kind of darkness.'

I could remember the strange and demonically deformed people...or I hope. There were things there that haunt me to this day. Those giant bones, my friends, squad members being cut and torn apart by these strange arms that came out of thin air.

'Hours have passed since I first stepped through those gates and the feeling of eyes lingers in my mind. The walls shift and bend above me stalking me, preying upon men I can still protect.'

I couldn't listen anymore. I turned off the MP3 player and put it away. Looked at the pilots and asked.

"What's the ETA to my destination?"

"Another hour. Take a cat nap sir. No need to sit around with nothing to do."

"Alright. Wake me."

I pulled a cushion from the seat next to me and I payed down and I went to sleep.

AN: You know. I don't own Ice Age. Blahbity, blahbity, blahbity